Abstract: A spring applied, hydraulically released brake includes a housing having an open end adapted to align with a vehicle surface and an internal ring extending from an inner perimeter of the housing; a piston; a disc stack including a thicker stationary disc including a tab with a hole therethrough, the hole receiving a slotted spring pin, the slotted spring pin slidably receiving a pin spring over a portion thereof; and a spring assembly adapted to urge the piston into contact with the thicker stationary disc to establish a default position of the brake; where, in a released position of the brake, the piston is not in contact with the thicker stationary disc, and the pin spring urges the thicker stationary disc into contact with the internal ring of the housing to thereby prevent the thicker stationary disc from free floating.

Abstract: A spring applied hydraulic released brake includes a brake housing including a pair of stator assemblies, a pair of piston-spring assemblies, each of the piston-spring assemblies including a piston assembly, a spring assembly adapted to apply spring force to the piston assembly to thereby engage the piston assembly with a first stator assembly of the pair of stator assemblies in a default position of the brake, and an end cap adjuster providing an opposing surface against which the spring assembly is biased, the end cap adjuster including a body portion having an end cap threading therearound generally corresponding with a housing threading within the brake housing.

Abstract: A hydraulic caliper assembly includes a caliper brake housing including two opposing pairs of two piston assemblies, each of the pairs of two piston assemblies adapted to place a respective stator assembly of a pair of stator assemblies in a braking position, where the caliper brake housing is a unitary, cast component having an internal fluid porting system fluidly coupling each of the piston assemblies with a source of hydraulic fluid, and where each of the piston assemblies have a common configuration.

Abstract: A hydraulic caliper disc brake includes an opposing pair of pistons adapted to act on an opposing pair of washers adapted to act on an opposing pair of stator assemblies, each of the pistons comprising a spherical piston face, each of the washers comprising a spherical washer face abutting a respective one of the spherical piston faces, and a straight washer face opposite the spherical washer face and abutting a respective one of the stator assemblies.

Abstract: A caliper brake (10) includes a housing (12) formed of a first housing portion (16) and a second housing portion (18). Each of the first housing portion and second housing portion include a channel (104) extending therethrough. The channels (104) include pins (102) for receiving one or more shims (94) thereon. Brake (10) includes a first stator assembly (60) and a second stator assembly (64) that are separated by a first distance when no shims (94) are on the pins (102). The first stator assembly (60) and the second stator assembly (64) are separated by a second distance less than the first distance when one or more shims (94) are on the pins (102).

Abstract: A brake (10,100) includes a piston (14,112) housing one or more springs (16,114) therein. The one or more springs (16,114) are adapted to urge an extension (30,140) of the piston (14,112) into contact with a disc stack (22,122) in a default position of the brake (10,100). Piston body (18,112) may be latitudinally offset from disc stack (22,122) by a distance (39,141). The brake (10,100) includes a manual release feature (70/72, 176).

Abstract: A brake (10) includes a housing (12) formed from a first housing portion (14) capable of receiving a second housing portion (16). The first housing portion (14) houses a piston (18) and a plurality of springs (20), and the second housing portion (16) houses an alternating arrangement of discs (52) for enacting a braking function. The second housing portion (16) further includes torque pin holes (80) for receiving torque pins (82) therein. Each torque pin (82) is secured with a plug (84) to secure stationary discs (54A, 54B, 54C) in place. The stationary discs (54A, 54B, 54C) have extending ears (74) positioned between torque pin grooves (76), which further receive the torque pins (82).

Abstract: A brake assembly adapted to be mounted to the flange of an axle housing. The brake assembly includes a stationary plate having a plurality of threaded holes therein. The brake assembly also includes a mounting sleeve positioned adjacent to the axle housing flange opposite the stationary plate. A plurality of holes are provided through the mounting sleeve and are aligned with the threaded holes in the stationary plate. A bolt is received through each of the holes in the mounting sleeve and the aligned holes in the axle housing flange and the threaded holes in the stationary plate to secure the brake to the axle housing. The mounting sleeve may be provided in two or more separate pieces in order to facilitate installation.

Abstract: A parking brake system includes an engine oil pressure switch normally controlling the activation of a parking brake. The controller is actuated to temporally ignore a communication from the engine oil pressure switch so that the brake may be released even when the engine is disabled.

Abstract: A caliper brake (10) is adapted to act upon a stator (40) to engage a rotor of a vehicle. A housing (11) carries both a spring applied hydraulically released piston assembly (12) and a pressure intensifying piston assembly (14). The assemblies (12, 14) are in fluid communication with each other. The assembly (12) includes a piston (18) and a spring assembly (20) which urges the piston (18) into a first position engaging the stator (40). The piston assembly (14) includes a pressure intensifying (PI) piston (64) which is in a first position when the piston (18) is in the first position. When the PI piston (64) moves from a first position to a second position, the fluid acts upon the piston (18) thereby disengaging the piston (18) from the stator (40).

Abstract: A brake assembly adapted to be mounted to the flange of an axle housing. The brake assembly includes a stationary plate having a plurality of threaded holes therein. The brake assembly also includes a mounting sleeve positioned adjacent to the axle housing flange opposite the stationary plate. A plurality of holes are provided through the mounting sleeve and are aligned with the threaded holes in the stationary plate. A bolt is received through each of the holes in the mounting sleeve and the aligned holes in the axle housing flange and the threaded holes in the stationary plate to secure the brake to the axle housing. The mounting sleeve may be provided in two or more separate pieces in order to facilitate installation.

Abstract: A caliper brake including a generally U-shaped housing including a first portion, a second portion, a bridge, and an opening. Spaced mounting bolts extend between the first and second portions of the housing and across the opening. Mounting sleeves are carried by the mounting bolts and received within bushings in the first and second portions of the housing. A pair of stators is carried by the mounting sleeves and capable of movement to engage a rotor positioned therebetween. The housing also includes bridge extensions at each end of the bridge extending laterally outward beyond and downward below the mounting bolts.

Abstract: A caliper brake including a housing and a rotating actuator received in a bore in the housing, the rotating actuator having a head positioned within the housing and an outer tapered surface located outside the housing. A lever includes a bore with an inner tapered surface that mates with the outer tapered surface of the rotating actuator. A threaded nut is received over a threaded end portion of the rotating actuate and applies pressure to the lever to rotationally secure it to the rotating actuator. An inner stator is positioned adjacent to the head of the rotating actuator and an outer stator is spaced from the inner stator, the stators being axially movable. A plurality of ramped depressions are provided in both the head and in a backing plate of the inner stator, and a ball is positioned between each of the ramped depressions.

Abstract: A hydraulic pressure multiplier having a housing, a bore in the housing and an outer piston slidably positioned within the bore. The pressure multiplier also includes an inner piston having a bore therethrough, the inner piston being positioned within a bore within the outer piston. An opening is provided through an end wall of the outer piston, and a mechanism is provided to selectively control hydraulic fluid flow into the bore within the outer piston. Hydraulic fluid first flows through the opening in the outer piston and through the bore through the inner piston to actuate a slave cylinder or a hydraulic piston within a brake. After a threshold pressure is reached within the slave cylinder, the valve closes and the outer piston is caused to move axially, thereby providing an increased hydraulic pressure within the slave cylinder.

Abstract: A caliper brake including a mounting bracket adapted to be secured to a vehicle. The mounting bracket includes a pair of laterally spaced holes, and a mounting bolt is received through each hole. Each bolt includes a head and a threaded portion on opposing ends, and a nut is received on each threaded portion. An inner spacer extends between the mounting bracket and the nut on each bolt, and an outer spacer extends between the mounting bracket and the head on each bolt.

Abstract: A two-stage slave cylinder including a housing and a bore extending within the housing. An outer piston is slidably positioned within the bore in the housing, and an outer piston chamber is defined by the bore and the outer piston. The outer piston chamber is connected to a hydraulic fluid source by a fluid passageway. A biasing mechanism acts to bias the outer piston in an unactuated position unless a force is exerted on the outer piston that is greater than the biasing force. A bore is provided in the outer piston, and an inner piston is slidably positioned therein. An inner piston chamber is defined by the bore and the inner piston, and an opening is provided in the outer piston to connect the outer piston chamber to the inner piston chamber. A valve assembly is provided within the opening in the outer piston to control the flow of fluid between the outer piston chamber and the inner piston chamber.

Abstract: A hydraulic caliper brake including a housing having a first half and a second half and a bridge connecting the housing halves. Each half of the housing includes a bore having a fluid chamber and a piston therein. The caliper brake also includes a fluid network having an inlet port and a bleed port in the first half of the housing, a first channel extending through the bridge and in fluid communication with the inlet port and the fluid chamber in the second half of the housing, and a second channel extending through the bridge and in fluid communication with the fluid chamber in the second half of the housing and the bleed port. A dual-flow passage is provided and is in fluid communication with the fluid chamber in the first half of the housing and the second channel. The fluid chamber in the first half is not in fluid communication with the first channel.

Abstract: A wet brake cooling fluid system includes a cooling fluid supply line that is divided into a plurality of parallel paths. One path is in fluid communication with the motive side of a venturi eductor pump. Another pump is directed into the brake after passing through a fixed orifice that restricts flow. At least on path is in fluid communication with the brake after passing through a valve that is piloted to a brake piston, the valve only opening upon actuation of the brake. A drain hose connects the brake to the suction side of the venturi eductor pump, thereby causing evacuation of the fluid from the brake. Due to the restriction of fluid flowing into the brake by the valve, the brake chamber remains substantially empty during non-braking conditions, and is flooded upon actuation of the brake and opening of the valve.

Abstract: A ball ramp brake including a housing, a disc assembly within the housing, and an annular rotatable actuator to actuate the brake by compressing the disc assembly. The rotatable actuator includes a plurality of depressions oriented circumferentially therein which become progressively shallower in a first circumferential direction. A plurality of depressions are circumferentially oriented in a surface of the housing and become progressively shallower in a second circumferential direction. The depressions in the actuator and the depressions in the housing each have a first angle of depression that is steeper than a second angle of depression. A boot seal may be provided between the fluid chamber of an actuating cylinder and the inner area within the housing to prevent fluid leakage. In addition, a cooling chamber may be provided in the housing to improve the brakes efficiency.